Making Dreams Happen

Helping deliver dreams in and outside of Children’s Hospital Colorado, a group of employees from the Anesthesiology Department at Children’s Colorado will be taking on the steep mountain passes at this year’s Courage Classic bike tour in Copper Mountain, July 23-24.

Dr. Mark Twite, team captain and director of pediatric cardiac anesthesia, helped start the Dream Team after seeing a need within the department.

“We saw the need to fundraise to be able to advance the perioperative care of sick children at the hospital,” said Dr. Twite. “So we decided to set up our own team and came up with the Dream Team – a play on words for what anesthesiologists do.”

Many of the Dream Team members branched out from the Cardiac Climbers Courage Classic Team which supports the Heart Institute at Children’s Colorado. Both teams still enjoy training together while growing and sustaining friendships with their fellow co-workers. Along with employee support, the Dream Team has done a unique thing to inspire their team members.

Up on the wall in the Anesthesiology Department at Children’s Colorado is a huge mountain poster with the team’s $50,000 fundraising goal summiting the top. The team uses a paper cyclist to mark their fundraising momentum up the mountain side. The group looks forward to the ceremonial movement and fundraising report at their weekly team meeting.

“It’s a visual goal marker and helps to remind people of what we are doing and the impact our fundraising has,” said Dr. Twite.

The Dream Team has gotten creative with their group fundraising efforts. They’ve held baked good contests, sold customized t-shirts and teamed up with a local farmer to sell produce. Each team member also taps into their own network to ask family and friends for support.

At the end of the day, it’s not the poster or fun fundraising opportunities that motivates this team – it’s the kids they work with.

“The most important message is for people to hear why we ride,” said Dr. Twite. “We ride for the sick children we look after every day.”

During the ride, thoughts of his own two children help to power Dr. Twite over the steep mountain passes.

“Some of my favorite memories have been riding with my own kids,” said Dr. Twite. “Courage Classic is a great family and community event.”

By participating in the Courage Classic, Dr. Twite and his team are able to give back in a way that helps to advance their own department’s mission. The Anesthesiology Department is continuously looking for ways to improve perioperative care to better help the children they serve.